Wed Jan 08, 2025 11:07 am
I decided to partially rework the map. There are several reasons for this:
More realistic regional divisions
The new divisions will better reflect actual regions. I'm still considering how to handle theaters, as they are somewhat abstract, but Areas will definitely correspond to provinces, while Regions will align with districts. Consequently, regional borders and their count will change, even in the old part of the map. Region names will match district names, while city names will remain separate. For example, a region might be called "Baku District," with the city in it named "Baku."
Potential optimization of regions
I'm not sure about the technical load each region imposes, but fewer regions should make the engine run smoother. If there are redundant ones, why not remove them? Some areas like the uninhabited North might be trimmed. These vast, unused spaces are overly fragmented, serving no practical purpose. It’s hard to say how the total number of regions will change elsewhere due to redistribution, but fewer regions overall might be better. Important regions will remain and likely gain more significance, while less meaningful ones will be merged. I doubt anyone will miss an excessive number of unused regions, and this approach would make each region more meaningful.
Adding new regions
In place of removed regions, I think it makes sense to add new ones that were overlooked by the creators. This would likely affect the Caucasus, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, and possibly parts of Siberia and the Far East. If feasible, it could also include western Poland or, hypothetically, Romania, though the necessity and practicality of this remain uncertain. Additional external regions might also be included for specific events, like parts of Turkey, Afghanistan, or Iran. This will depend on the situation.
More precise redrawing of railroads
It’s clear the creators significantly reduced the real number of railroads. In a previous mod, I edited them as best I could by crudely cutting and pasting sections. Now, railroads will be entirely redrawn from scratch where needed. Everything is being done in a PSD file, keeping railroads and the map separate, which allows for easy adjustments if needed.
Currently, I've reworked the Caucasian provinces. It’s been tricky in places since the creators stretched the map in ways that don’t align well with real geography. So far, I’ve completed the Baku, Elizavetpol, Tiflis, Kutais, Erivan, and Kars (new) provinces. The Kars province effectively replaces the Erzurum block (occupying its location) and will serve as the main staging ground for conflicts between Turkey and the Caucasus, as well as potential clashes with the Reds.
There may be a few additional eastern Turkish regions west of Kars, but that seems unlikely, as it goes beyond the scope of the civil war. Turkey should have enough of a staging ground with Kars. I’ve calculated that there are currently two fewer Caucasian regions. This is because the Erzurum and Iranian regions (misidentified as Ararat in the game) have been merged into others. The Iranian region, in particular, is redundant now that the Kars area exists.
I’ll share a piece of the map later once I add railroads and tweak some rivers. To be honest, I don’t entirely see the point of rivers when they’re roughly drawn, incomplete, and unusable for ships. Still, they add ambiance, so why not include them for aesthetic purposes?